Rumbling Clint's Scottish Notes

Expected a quiet day to finish accounts but alas there came a message to Bewlie¹ (Miss Ordish² ), Sunderland Hall & Thirladean. I had a cold coming on too but had to go off. It was a beastly raw day with a lot of sleety snow towards evening. David [Graham] had to go to Synton Mill but put it off. He was knocking about the town³. Agnes Rodger called at night to say good bye as she goes back to India about the 27th.

¹ Bewlie, Lilliesleaf was about as far east as Dr Muir’s practice operated

² If this is a correct reading then this is almost certainly Hannah Ordish (about 1845-1920), housekeeper at Bowhill [1911 Census], though it is not clear why she would be at Bewlie. Daughter of George Ordish and Elizabeth Ordish née Pegg, married June Quarter 1845 [Derby Registration District, 19 483], she was born March Quarter 1845 [Shardlow Registration District 19 569 – assume Littleover, where her family lived in 1851 Census], and she died 13 March 1920, Bowhill House, Selkirk, of a malignancy, her death certified by Dr John Stewart Muir

³ This is the first time that Dr Muir’s observations of Dr David Graham’s conscientiousness (lack of) appear to have turned into real criticism and is contrasted in the entry with Dr Muir’s own determination to ‘press on’. The criticism is still very minor compared with his views of Robert Elliot Little (or The Lout as Dr Muir called him) in the 1890s or of Lord Napier’s ‘lacking moral fibre’ in the early years of the First World War

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Hard frost growing at night with a little snow. Walked to Mavisbank + Hospital + went to morning service with Jean [Muir]. After church saw Murdoch, Mr Moffat, Mrs H Hogg, Mrs Rodger + Mrs Riddell. Made out some accounts. Nancy + Jack came to supper¹.

¹ Agnes ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir and John ‘Jack’ Roberts junior, Dr Muir’s daughter and son-in-law

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Hard frost: fine clear calm day. Without much to do I never got settled down to the accounts till late in the afternoon. First [?] came a message to Sund. [Sunderland] Hall to see Caroline. + at the same time I made calls in Curror Street, Hospital + Gib + Lum [Gibson and Lumgair]. Then I attended a [illegible] for Hiddleston¹: was called to Mrs Archie Robertson then to Mrs Hogg, Elmrow, who had fallen on the pavement. After dinner I had to see Murdoch (who had a rigor²) then Johnstone, Ladylands, called at 9 + they came up from Mavisbank about Mrs Ballantyne. Again David had very little to do. I got a motor clock from H & I³ for him which cost 70/- [shillings – nominally £3.50 but actually a great deal of money].

¹ John Murray Hiddleston (1891-1954); medical practitioner

² Rigor is an episode of shaking or exaggerated shivering which can occur with a high fever

³ The editor assumes this is Hamilton & Inches, Edinburgh jewellers and watch sellers, who call themselves H&I to this day

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Baptie took the Ford to Stow + cycled back¹. Made 21 town calls including Scott, Manorhill [Philiphaugh²] + twice at Hospital where I sent Mona McIntyre with Diphtheria. Thought I would get at the accounts but never was able. Had to see Mr [?] Currie, Bythorn³, in the evening + Murdoch was not so well but he has passed the catheter himself. David did very little but for the Shawmount but he saw a lot of men at the Victoria Hall in the morning for demobilisation. It was fresh.

¹ Thomas Baptie (1860-1929); driver for Dr Muir, his son had died in 1918

² For Scott of Manorhill, assume James Scott, coachman, only resident recorded there on 1919 Valuation Roll, the property is visible on the Ordnance Survey 6 inch Selkirkshire Sheet XI.NE, revised 1897, published 1900

³ Byethorn, Selkirk, home of the Currie family and where the Selkirk High School is now; it is difficult to be confident as to whom Dr Muir is attending, it could be Mr Robert Currie (about 1857-1923), woollen hosiery manufacturer (but not his wife Mary Currie née Murray who had died 15 June 1916 at Byethorn, Selkirk) or perhaps one of the Misses Currie, Christina (c.1870-), Jane M (c.1877-) or Wilhelmina (1883-).

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Rather sharper but quite fresh. Dav [Dr David Graham] had a long round to Synton Mill, Ashkirk Manse, Rinkhope, Ettrick Shaws, Altrieve, Mount Benger, Mount Benger Hope and Deuchar Mill which took him from 10 till after 4 + then he went to Shawmount. I saw some town cases + cycled to Yair. It threatened rain + I rode in my cape but it kept quite fair. Jean came at 7.30 looking very well¹.

¹ Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir (1877-1941), Dr Muir’s eldest daughter

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Very little town work but a lot of county. I got a note yesterday from Mrs Elliot, Newhall asking me to see And. [Andrew¹] as [Dr] Henderson laid up + his assistant is a young chap. I saw 4 or 5 town cases + cycled there coming back by Hosp[ital]. Then D. [David] went to Shielshaugh taking his patient Mr Robinson (we had to use the Swift as the Ford won’t go²). Later he got a message to Mr Stewart, Lewenshope + went there + later he got another to Rinkhope + I to Yair. D. [David] took Adam Scott’s car + I went over at 9 in the Swift to Dubs³. Helen [Muir] left for Hamilton this morning. It was a fresh mild day.

¹ Elliot of Newhall, Caddonfoot: the tenants were Andrew Taylor Elliot and Walter Pringle Elliot [1919 Valuation Roll]

² The Swift Motor Company made Swift Cars in Coventry, England, 1900-1931

³ Frank Albert Dubs (1860-1920), engineer and locomotive builder, later of ‘private means’, with nine servants [source: 1911 census], born Anderston, Glasgow

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Back to fresh again: a mild calm day. Saw some town cases walking + then sat making out accounts. David came up at 2.30 to help me but he was called away to Mrs Dalgleish, Altrieve¹. At night he had to go to Shielshaugh. I was sitting in the smoke room after dinner + noticed curious sparks in the flames of the stove which turned out to [be] soot from the lamp which was smoking + the whole place was filthy with soot + I had to take a bath.

¹ George Dalgleish was tenant at Altrieve, Yarrow [1919 Valuation Roll]

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Sharp frost: dense fog in morning which cleared away before the brilliant sunshine. I was called out at 12:30 last night to Murdoch. Got on my bike this morning + ran down to see Jas. [Hardie ?], Curror Street + Jeannie Wright, Clifton Road. Saw some others walking. D. [Dr David Graham] did nothing in town but motored to Synton Mill for Willie Grieve¹. Jessie Boyd came to tea². Helen [Muir] was at the Pict. Ho. [picture house] with Nancy, B & J³. Had letters from Willie Rodger + Jm [?] McDonald, Dumfries⁴. Made out accounts in afternoon.

¹ Syntonmill or Synton Mill, Ashkirk, approximate grid reference NGR NT498,232, Canmore ID 341742, shown on Ordnance Survey Six Inch Selkirkshire Sheet XVI.NW & NE (includes: Ashkirk; Lilliesleaf; Minto), revised 1897, published 1900

² Jessie Milne Brack Boyd (1867-1961); of Faldonside, plantswoman and gardener

³ Dr Muir’s daughters Jane Henderson Logan ‘Jean’ Muir and Agnes Amelia ‘Nancy’ Roberts née Muir and two of Agnes’s children, John Stewart ‘Jock’ Roberts and Andrina Barbara Henderson ‘Barbara’ Roberts

⁴ The editor thinks this may conceivably be James C R Macdonald, writer to the signet, at 1 Newall Terrace, Dumfries – see 18 September 1918 diary entry

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Very nice day with just a touch of frost. Motored via Mauldsheugh to Yair, Galashiels (to see Marion Paton¹) + Faldonside (Matthewson). Went to afternoon service. Read ‘The Kaiser I Knew’ by Davis his American dentist². Called to Murdoch at 7 + had to leave Wellwood early to see him again. David [Graham] walked to Thirladean. Carnegie leaves for the South of England tomorrow.

¹ Marion Agnes Paton (about 1841-1940), one of a pair of sisters living ‘on their own means’ and whose flit to Galashiels in May 1918 had been funded by a community appeal

² Davis, Arthur Newton, ‘The Kaiser I knew; my fourteen years with the Kaiser, by Arthur N Davis, dentist to the Kaiser and for fifteen years a resident of Berlin’, London, Hodder & Stoughton, 1918; the American edition by Harper had a different title [Source: https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/006571545 accessed 2018.01.10] and the German edition is ‘Ein günstling des kaisers, aus dem englischen übers. und mit randbemerkungen versehen von S Werner von Kautzsch’ [pseudonym of Dietze, Ernst (1869-), editor and translator], Berlin, Ziemsen, 1919

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]

Feeling the effects of a week’s sedentary work + went out a little. Walked over to the Firs + then to the Hospital etc. Intended walking to Faldonside but just at 12 when I was starting there was a heavy shower of rain + snow but I really might have gone in it. Kept quite fair after. There was very little work to do. D. [Dr David Graham] had a lot of men to demobilise yesterday + today.

[Source: Scottish Borders Archives & Local History Service SBA/657/22, Dr J S Muir of Selkirk, medical practitioner, journal for 1919]